Means for centering and clamping a flask in position in centrifugal casting machines



July l8, 1950 J. D. GUELPH 2,515,216

MEANS FOR CENTERING AND CLAMPING A FLASK IN POSITION IN CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINES Filed May 24, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 1 INI/EN TOR. doH/v D. Gua PH A 7 ro/e/v/sr July 18, 1950 J. D. GUELPH 2,515,216

f MEANS FOR CENTERINQ AND CLAMPING A FLAsK 1N PosI'rIoN 1N CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINES Filed May 24, 1947 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. doH/v D. Gat-L PH Patented July 18, 1950 4 S FOR CENTERING AND CLAMPING A FLASK IN' POSITION IN CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINES v John D. Guelph, Paterson, N. J., assignor to A. R..D. Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York VApplication May 24, 1947, Serial No. 750,204

2 claims. (o1. zz-cs) This invention relates to centrifugal casting machines. More particularly, it relates to means for centering and clamping a flask in position on therotating table of a centrifugal casting machine.

IAn object of this invention is to provide a new and improved centrifugal casting machine,

Another object of this invention is to provide a centrifugal casting machine with means for easily, quickly and automatically centering the flask on the table and clamping it in position.

vAn additional object of this invention is to provide a centrifugal casting machine having centering and rclamping ymeans automatically adaptable to different flask diameters.

A further object of this invention is to provide a centrifugal casting machine wherein the centrifugal force developed in the elements of the flask-clamping-means rigidly clamps and holds the flask during the casting operation.

Other and additional objects of the invention will become apparent hereinafter.

, The objects of the invention are obtained, in general, by mounting a plurality of spaced flaskclamping jaws arranged equidistantly from the center axis of the machine for movement in a` radial path to and from the center axis ofzthe machine and providing means forl simultaneously moving said yjaws in the desired direction in said radial paths vwhereby a flask disposed `therebetween is centered and gripped or released depending on the direction of movement of the jaws. Means are also provided `to utilize the centrifugal force developed during rotation of the machine during thecasting operation to securely clamp and hold the ask in position.

y oneembodiment of the invention, each jaw iscarried on a separatey jaw holder, and each jaw holder is slidably mounted on'a separate screw shaftfwhich, upon rotation, will cause the jaw holder thereon to move in a radial path to and from the center axis of the machine depending onthe direction of rotation of the screw shaft. Each screw shaft is provided at its inner end with a bevel gear which, in turn, is inmeshing relationship with a main bevel gear.` Means are provided to rotate the main bevel gear lin the desired direction whereby the jaws will be moved simultaneously inwardly toward or outwardly from the center axis of the machine. The means for rotating the main gear is provided with means which utilize the centrifugal force developed during vrotation of the machine so as to transmit the torque so developed to the main gear where- 56 by the jaws will exert a clamping effect on the flask disposed therebetween during the casting operation.

The nature of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein: n

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a machine -embodying the principles of this invention; Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l; and Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like 4 reference numerals designate like parts, the reference numeral I0 designates a turn-table which is secured in any convenient manner, as by screws I2, to a ange I4 of a rotatable spindle I6. The spindle I6 is rotated about its center axis in any well-known manner, and since the details of construction of the spindle and the drive therefor form no part of this invention, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. f

A plate I8 disposed in opposed grooves inthe flange I4 and the under surface of the turntable IIJ aids in transmitting the torque of the spindle I6 to the table IB. A flask 20 containing the mold and into which the molten metal is to be ladeled is adapted to be positioned on a flask rest pad 22 on a jaw-supporting table 24 which is secured rigidly on spaced brackets 2B which, in turn, are secured rigidly to the table Ill.

In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the drawings, the flask 20 is adapted to be centered and gripped between or released from three jaw plates 30 arranged in spaced relationship to each other and equidistantly from the center axis of the machine. Since all of the jaw plates 30 are identically mounted and operated, the details of the mounting and operation of only one of such jaw plates will be described.

Each jaw plate 3U is secured to a jaw holder 3.2 in any convenient manner, as by screws 34, and each jaw holder 32 is providedwith a threaded hole through which a screw shaft 35 extends. Each jaw holder v32 is provided with extensions 40 which are adapted to slide in-a slot 42 in vthe jaw-supporting table 24. Each slot 42, as shown in Figure 2, extends in a radial direction relative to the center axis of themachina l y Each screw shaft 36 is rotatably mounted in bushings 44 and 46. The bushing 44 issecured in a support 48 depending from the jaw table 24 and the bushing 4G is carried ina support 50 secured to the table I 0 in any convenient-manner.

A cap 54 is pinned to the outer end of each screw shaft 36, and on its inner end each screw shaft 36 is provided with a bevel gear 56 in mesh with a main bevel gear 58 rotatably mounted on a post 66. The center axis of the post 6D is located in the center 'a'xi'sfof the machine and issecured at the bottom thereof to the turn-table I6 and at the top thereof to the jaw-supporting table 2,4. A radial bearing 62 and a thrust bearing 66 are provided between the main bevel gear 58 and the post 60.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that upon the rotation of the main gear 58 each of the screw shaft gears 56 will be rotated in the same direction, with the result that each of the jaw holders 32 on the respective screw shafts 36 Will be moved simultaneously, depending upon the direction of rotation of the main gear 58, toward or away from the center axis of the machine.

Means are provided to rotate the main gear 58 whereby the jaw holders 32 can be moved simul taneously in the desired direction. In the form shown, main gear 58 is in mesh with and rotated by a bevel gear 66 secured to the inner end of a shaft 6B rotatably mounted in bushings l!) in the brackets 26. At its outer end, the shaft 68 is provided with a gear 'l2 which is in mesh with a bevel gear 14 secured to a shaft 16 rotatably mounted in a bushing ,f8 carried by the j aw-supporting table 24. A ratchet 80 is appropriately secured to the shaft 'i6 and a locking weight member 82 is jour naled on" the ratchet 86. The locking weight member 82 is provided with a hole through which the shaft i6 extends and also with a bore in which a plunger 84 is disposed. It is to be noted that the locking weight member is eccentrically mounted on the shaft i6. The plunger 84 is provided with a tooth 86 which is adapted to engage one of the grooves 88 of the'ratchet 80. The plunger 64 is continuously urged into locking position with the ratchet 86 by a compression spring 86. On its outer end, the plunger is provided with a lrnurled knob 92. A pin 94 secured to the knob 62 extends into at hole in the member 82 when the plunger is invlocking position.

-A lever 56 keyed to the outer end of the shaft I6 isprovided with manual grip portions 98. It is manifest that when the tooth 86 of the plunger 84 is in engagement with a groove 88 in the ratchet member 86 upon rotation of the shaft 'I6 through the lever 96 the locking weight member 82 will rotate therewith. When the plunger G4 is retracted by manually engaging the knob 62 and moving it outwardly to the right in Figure 3, 'the tooth 66 will be withdrawn from the groove and the locking 'weight member 82 can be rotated about the shaft i6 and the ratchet member 30. The reason for this will become apparent hereinafter.

Each of the jaw holders 32 has secured thereu to a jaw frontv cover l62 and a jaw back cover iM which are adapted to cover or close the slots in the j aw-supporting table 24. It is to be noted that the jaw front covers 562 are disposed beneath the flask rest pad 22 and the vertical legs thereof are positioned in grooves 63 whereby screws |66 which fasten them to the jaw will not be in engagement with the flask 26. A shield or housing l i6 is secured to both the turnftable i6 and jawsupporting table 24.

In operation, the flask 26 is disposed on the ask rest pad 22 and the operator grips the handle 98 and operates it so that the lever 66 is rotated in such a direction that the rotation of the gear 66 will impart rotation to the main bevel gear 58 in a direction so as to rotate the gears 56 on the screw shafts 36 in a direction whereby the jaw holders 32 will be moved on their respective screw shafts in their radial path toward the center of the machine and until they center and grip the flask. At this point, the lockingweight member 82 may be atfany positionY relative to; the table. lThe plunger 34 is'now retracted and the locking weight member 82 rotated about the shaft 'I6 and the ratchet 86 until it assumes a position such as shown in dotted line position in Figure 2, and hereafter described. The plunger is then released so as to lock the locking member 82 to the ratchet 80. y

The spindle i6 is then rotated at a definite speed, and the molten metal ladled into the upper end of the flask. After the metal has solidified, the table is brought to rest, the lever 96 is operated so as to movethe jaws into flask-releasing position, and the flask removed. The cycle of operations is repeated for each casting.

During the time interval thatthe table is rotating, a centrifugal force F is effective at the center of gravity of the locking weight 82, as at G. A moment FL is therefore effective to turn the locking member 62 and with it the ratchet 80 about center O. It is obvious that the torque so developed will be transmitted bythe gearing above de#- scribed so as to exert a clamping force by the jaws g on the flask. When the rotation of the table has stopped, no torque will be transmitted to the jaws so that the clamping force is released, whereby the jaws can be easily moved as previously described,

Though the invention has been specifically described in connection with a, turn-table rigidly secured to the spindle,v the invention is not restricted thereto. The turn-table and its associated elements can be provided with an adapter and removably secured in position on the spindle as set forth in my copending application filed on even date herewith. for Centrifugal Casting Machines.

The invention provides a lcentrifugal casting machine which quickly centers the flask and clamps it in position and utilizes the centrifugal force developed during the operation of the machine to rigidly clamp and hold the flask in position during the clamping operation. The clamping force for positively holding the flask in posi'- tion is therefore automatically applied `and released by the rotary motion of the table. Consequently, the operator isrelieved of the time and manual effort ordinarily required for this purpose and a higher production rate is achieved with less physical effort. Also, since the mechanism of this invention is automatically adaptable to different flask diameters, no time is consumed for the adjustment of either the positioning'or clamping means,` irrespective of the diameters of the flasks successively used in the machine, and a higher production rate is obtained. The higher production rate results 'in a considerably lower unit cost for the product.

Since it is obvious that various changes andmodications can be made in the above description without departing from the nature or yspirit thereof, this invention is not restricted'thereto except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: j

1. In a centrifugal casting machine, a turn# table, means to rotate said turn-table, a jawsupporting table secured to said turn-table, a plurality of spaced jaws arranged equidistantly from the center axis of the machine, each jaw being adapted to slide radially in said jaw-supporting table relative to the center axis of said machine whereby a flask disposed between said jaws will be centered and gripped thereby or released therefrom, each jaw being movably mounted on a separate screw shaft, a gear on each screw shaft, la main gear meshing simultaneously with said screw shaft gears to actuate the jaws in unison, a drive shaft extending axially of said turn-table and positioned eccentrically thereof, means gearing said drive shaft to drive said screw shafts, a weight member rotatably mounted on said drive shaft and positioned eccentrically thereon so that during rotation of said turn-table a centrifugal force will be developed thereby, and a releasable connection connecting said Weight member to said drive shaft whereby said weight member can be positioned on said jaws to exert centrifugal force for holding a clamping pressure.

2. In a centrifugal casting machine, a turntable, means to rotate said turn-table, a jawsupporting table secured to said turn-table, a plurality of spaced jaws arranged equidistantly from the center axis of the machine, each jaw being adapted to slide radiallj7 in said jaw-supporting table relative to the center axis of said machine whereby a flask disposed between said jaws will be Icentered and gripped thereby or released therefrom, each jaw being movably mounted on a separate screw shaft, a gear on each screw shaft, a main gear meshing simultaneously with said screw shaft gears to actuate the jaws in unison, a drive shaft extending axially of said turntable and positioned eccentrically thereof, means gearing said drive shaft to drive said screw shafts, a weight member rotatably mounted on said drive shaft :and positioned eccentrically thereon so that during rotation of said turn-table a .centrifugal force will be developed thereby, a ratchet secured on said drive shaft, and a releasable plunger carried by said Weight member and cooperating with said ratchet to lock said weight member in driving relation with said drive shaft, whereby the force developed in said Weight member will be transmitted to said drive shaft in a direction to cause the jaws to exert clamping pressure.

JOHN D. GUELPH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,501,338 Henry July l5, 1924 1,517,579 Pashley Dec. 2, 1924 1,691,464 Brown Nov. 13, 1928 1,713,803 Whiton May 21, 1929 1,846,482 Fiegel et al Feb. 23, 1932 1,917,872 Campbell July 11, 1933 2,207,621 'Hite July 9, 1940 2,361,906 Anderson Nov. 7, 1944 2,385,631 Levinson Sept. 25, 1945 

